Magnet assembly for filtering



P 14, 1965- SABURO MlYATA MORIYA 3,206,657

MAGNET ASSEMBLY FOR FILTERING Filed April 4. 1961 INVENTOR.

5 Wig 0Z0 filarzga.

AGENT United States Patent MAGNET ASSEMBLY FOR FILTERING Saburo Miyata Moriya, Yokohama, Japan (58 Shima Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) Filed Apr. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 100,564 6 Claims. (Cl. 317-201) This invention relates to a magnet assembly for filtering and more particularly to an assembly of discrete magnets adapted to be placed in a fluent material to extract paramagnetic particles therefrom.

An object of this invention is the provision of a magnet assembly comprising a plurality of discrete magnets adapted to be placed in the path of flow of a fluent material which may contain paramagnetic particles.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a filter trap for paramagnetic particles which comprise spaced apart discrete magnets arranged in a sheath of non-magnetic material.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a plurality of ball or short bar magnets arranged in spaced apart relation in a flexible sheath of non-magnetic material, preferably a plastic such as polyethylene, vinyl resin or the like.

These and other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the following specifications taken with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which like parts are represented by like characters of reference.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the basic element of my invention using a ball magnet;

FIG. 2 is a variation in which a short bar magnet is used;

FIG. 3 is an assembly of a plurality of balls in a plastic tube;

FIG. 4 is a variation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is still another variation;

FIG. 6 shows one adaptation of the elements of FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows another adaptation of the elements of FIGS. 3, 4 or 5, and

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

The basic element in FIG. 1 consists of a sheath 10 having a diameter slightly less than that of the ball 12 placed therein. Thus the ball 12 stretches the sheath 10 and is enabled to stay in the position in which it is placed. The ball 12 is magnetized as shown by N and S but may be magnetized otherwise, as Will appear later.

In FIG. 2, I show a sheath 14 having a short bar magnet 16 placed therein. This magnet 16 also has a diameter larger than that of the sheath 14 for stretching the sheath and holding the magnet in position.

FIG. 3 shows an adaptation of the basic form of FIG. 1 wherein a magnet assembly 18 includes a sheath 20 and a plurality of ball magnets 22 in spaced apart relation therein. The magnetization may be as indicated by the N and S lettering or otherwise as desired.

In FIG. 4, the assembly 118 comprises a sheath 120 similar to sheath 20. Here the magnets 122 are separated by means of spacers 124 of non-magnetic material. The magnets 122 may be magnetized as shown by the N and S lettering.

3,206,657 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 In FIG. 5, I show a further modification in which the assembly 218 is like the assembly 118 except for the direction of magnetization. The sheath 220 and the spacers 224 are like sheath 120 and spacers 124. The balls 222 are magnetized as shown by the N and S lettering.

In FIG. 6, I show a sump or reservoir which receives fluid from a pipe 36 leading from a grinding machine or the like (not illustrated). The fluid enters the sump 30 through the inlet 36 and is drawn out through the outlet 32 by a pump P to a suitable collection tank or settling tank. In the sump or reservoir 30, on a suitable frame (not shown) I suspend a plurality of magnetic trap units 18 so that the fluid passing through the sump is subjected to the action of a very large number of magnets. Any paramagnetic particles suspended in the fluid will become attached to the units 18. The sump 30 may or may not be covered.

One of the prime virtues of this system is the ease of cleaning. One merely holds a piece of cloth between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and with the other hand draws the assembly 18 through the wiper thus provided. This cleans the assembly very well and quickly. It is also to be noted that the assemblies 18, in FIG. 6, may be replaced by assemblies 118 or 218.

In FIG. 7, I show a trough or chute 40 having a bottom 42 and sides 44 and 46. In or on the bottom 42, I place, transversely thereof, a suitable number of assemblies 18. The means of supporting them are not shown as such arrangements must be improvised for various conditions of use. The inclination of the chute 40 will be adjusted to suit the fluent material flowing thereover.

In FIG. 8, I show a further embodiment in which spherical magnets 322 and prismatic magnets 321 are arranged in a plastic tube 320 with non-magnetic spacers 324. In this arrangement, the polarities of the magnets are heterogeneously arranged. The prismatic magnets preferably have rectangular sections in planes normal to the prism faces.

The magnets above mentioned are made of sintered ferrite but other magnetic materials can be used to carry out the objects of the invent-ion. In addition to the adaptations shown, it should be apparent that assemblies such as 18 can be placed free on the bottom of any pan or tank, such as the oil pan of a motor vehicle in order to entrap paramagnetic particles suspended in a fluid in such pan or tank. The basic elements of FIG. 1 may also be so used and due to the tube extending each way from the ball 12, the units will not couple up to a great extent, and if placed in a receptacle such as shown in my copend-ing application S.N. 76,230, filed Dec. 16, 1960, now Patent No. 3,059,910, dated Oct. 23, 1962, they will have little tendency to rotate or turn so that one may short the fields of several others.

Having now described preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A magnet assembly for filtering comprising an elongated tube of non-magnetic material, a plurality of spherical magnets placed in said tube in spaced apart relations, extending longitudinally of the tube, and having their poles heterogeneously arranged.

Z. A magnet assembly comprising a tube of elastomeric material and a plurality of magnets of a diameter greater than the diameter of the tube spacedly mounted therein.

3. A magnet assembly comprising a tube of elastorneric material and a plurality of spheres of a diameter greater than that of the tube spacedly mounted therein, each of said spheres being magnetized along a diameter thereof.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the spheres are of sintered ferrite.

5. A magnet assembly comprising a tube of elastomeric material and a plurality of magnets spacedly mounted in the tube, all of said magnets being spheres.

6. A magnet assembly comprising a tube of elastomeric material and a plurality of magnets spacedly mounted in the tube, alternate magnets being spheres.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,887,454 5/59 Toulmin 317201 X 2,937,710 5/60 Michael et a1. 210222 2,958,019 10/60 Scholten et a1. 31720l X 3,024,392 3/62 Baermann 317201 3,034,651 5/6'2 Morrell 317-201.5 3,059,910 10/62 Moriya 210222 JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL BERNSTEIN, Examiner. 

1. A MAGNET ASSEMBLY FOR FILTERING COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBE OF NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF SPHERICAL MAGNETS PLACED IN SAID TUBE IN SPACED APART RELATIONS, EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE TUBE, AND HAVING THEIR POLES HETEROGENEOUSLY ARRANGED. 